Boat-lowering apparatus for navigable vessels.



0,1). & R.. DOXFORD. BOAT LOWERING APPARATUS FOR NAVIGABLE VESSELS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.27, 1912.

1,083,065. Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CDHWASHINGTON. D. c.

G. D. &.R. DOXFORD. BOAT LOWBRING APPARATUS FOR NAVIGABLE VESSELS.

' APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1912. 1,083,065. Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

C. D. z R. DOXFORD.

BOAT LOWERING APPARATUS FOR NAVIGABLE VESSELS. 1,083,065.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 27, 1912.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3. r

0.. WASHINGTON, D. c.

G. D. & R. DOXPOR'D. BOAT LOWBRING APPARATUS FOR NAVIGABLB VESSELS.

APPLICATION IILBD MN. 27, 1912.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

COLUMBIAPLANDURAPH $0., WASHINGTON, D. c-A

nmrun STATES PATN time BOAT-DOWERING APPARATUS FOR NAVIGABLE VESSELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 27, 1912.

Patented Dec. 3%, 1913. Serial No. 722,685.

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that we, CHARLES DAVID Doxronn and ROBERT DOXFORD, subjects of the King of England, both residing at Durham England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boat-Lowering Apparatus for Navigable Vessels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to davit apparatus in navigable vessels for carrying and lower ing small boats.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to enable large passenger vessels tocarry life boats which shall not only be sufficient for all hands but shall also be capable of being lowered independently of one another in the sense that no boat or its davit gear need get in the way of the operation of another, excepting only that the lower tier boat is to be put out first which is the natural course. 7

Every boat according to the present invention, will be carried in its own individual davit or davits ready for use and accessible for loading up with passengers, and gear can be provided to overcome the effect of a listed vessel, so that the davits on the high side of a listed vessel can be pushed out to a position that enables the davit and boat to be lowered by gravity.

According to the present invention davit apparatus, such as is above referred to, is combined with the navigable vessel in a plurality of superposed tiers and the davits of different tiers have different outreaches. These differences in length of outreach enable any one boat to be lowered independently of the position at any time of the davits appropriated to any of the other boats beneath it, for it is intended that the davits of the upper tiers should be long enough to stretch out over the lowered davits in the next lowest tier. In most instances two superposed tiers on each side of the vessel will suflice. But in other cases or for certain portions of a vessels length more than two superposed tiers can be used.

The davit apparatus to be combined with a navigable vessel according to the present invention is preferably the DoXford automatic gravity apparatus of the type described in prior specifications of British Letters Patent N 0. 15,903/1893 and No. 6,131/1902 both granted to Charles David Doxford.

The superposed tiers are preferably arcordance with this invention.

ranged according to this invention at the outboard side of any rails, deck-house or other deck obstruction. Preferably the boats do not project beyond the beam of the vessel. Preferably also in a vessel in which they are applied in way of deck superstructures, the superstructures are of less width than the full beam of the vessel and have the tiers of boats and davits beyond the outer sides of these superstructures; thus there will not be any deck underneath the boats at the level of their keels. Where the davits employed are pivoted at their heels or are otherwise arranged to cant outboard for lowering the boats a pusher may be combined with them according to the present invention which can push the davit outboard against gravity should it tend to remain vertical or inboard on the high side of a listed vessel. This pusher may be any convenient mechanical device having a mechanical advantage such that a single man can operate iteven when it is taking its share of the weight of a heavy boat.

Figure 1 is a thwart-ship half-section of the upper part of a large vessel with two superposed tiers of davits fitted thereto according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a gear constructed in ac- Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a plan of the derrick head. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the suspension hook. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the movable block. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the movable block showing its engagement with the suspension hook and the boat attachment. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a trip-connection on the derrick. Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 18 is a plan of the same, and Fig. l t is a perspective view showing the lead of the boat fall.

With reference first to Fig. 1 boats such as L are carried in davits B which are pivoted at their lower ends on pivots p, and these pivots are disposed fore and aft along the deck S D so that there is a tier of boats such as L supported by the davits B on a level such that they are conveniently accessible from the promenade deck P D. On the promenade deck P D davits B O are similarly mounted on pivots p 0 and they carry a tier composed of boats such as L O which are conveniently accessible from the boatdeck B D. The davit B O is shown in chain-lines in its outboard position and similarly the davit B is shown outboard in chainlines. From these chain-lines it may easily be seen that the davits of the upper tier have a greater outreach than the davits of the lower tier. Thus any of the boats can be lowered independently of the position at any time of the davits appropriated to any other of the boats. It will be observed that the superstructure of which the .decks P D and B D form a part is of less width than the full beam of the vessel and the tiers of boats and davits are beyond the outer sides of the superstructure. A screw-threaded rod 8 is arranged to bear against each davit above the heel pivot thereof. It is operated by bevel gearing g g which actuates a nut a rigidly connected with the gear-wheel g and turning between stationary supports, one of which is constituted by the casting 0 attached to the deck and forming a support for the lower bevel wheel g, which latter is manually operated, and the other of which is constituted by a beam 6 also secured to the deck. Rotation of the gearing will turn the nut 91. and this will screw the rod 8 in and out without turning it. The outboard end of this rod is formed as a jaw j which bears against the inner side of the davit and is provided with a pin 0 to go through it and the davit so as to lock the clavit in the vertical position usually occupied by the davit at sea.

The type of boat-lowering gear which is employed in the tiers according to the present invention is not of itself new but will now be described with reference to Figs. 214.- of the accompanying drawings.

Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

Referring generally to the drawings, on suitable supports A on the vessel or the like derricks such as B of convenient form are pivoted at their lower ends. At the head of each derrick a suitable housing C is provided to accommodate the sheaves D for the fall E. Upon the sheave pm D is pivoted a plate F supporting a hollow susp'ension rod G by means of a T-end G on the rod which engages with bearings F in the plate F so that the rod Gr can swing in a fore and aft direction while the pivot of the plate F allows the rod to swing athwart ship. At the bottom of the hollow rod G a cross-head G is formed to carry a swinging duplex suspension hook H.

Only one fall E is used on each derrick B and this may be rove through a standing block J attached in a suitable position about the supports or deckhouse, passing over guide sheaves D in the head of the derrick to a block K provided with an eye or link K which can be attached to a hook L in the boat L. To avoid confusing the drawings the course of the fall is not shown in Figs. 2 or 3 but is indicated in perspective in Fig. 14. The blockK is arranged to be held by the suspension hook H in its highest position or when avery little below its highest position and to be free to be raised or lowered when released from the hook. The end of the rope fall E is made fast to the bottom block K and runs through the hollow suspension rod Gr so that on hoisting the boat, the block K is led straight up to the suspension ro'd G. The suspension rod thus forms a strut between the block K and the derrick which is then raised.

Preferably two of these derricks B are used to each boat L, but if the boat be fitted with fore and aft sling suspension gear one derrick only would be required. Any suitable deck-house may be utilized as supporting points for the derricks or suitable framing may be erected for the purpose: in turret deck vessels they may be pivoted upon the stringer flange.

At suitable positions 'upon the derricks B 7 iron supports M, M may be fitted to receive the boat chocks M, M these supports are preferably made to a V-shape with the apex M horizontal and formed of plates fitted on either side of the derricks and riveted to the side webs thereof, the plates being bolted through with ferrules on the bolts to maintain them at their proper distance apart. The upper arm M of the V receives one of the wood choc'ks l and at the apex M of the V a strong bolt M is fitted on which the bar or lever M carrying the outer chock M is pivoted, this bar 1 3 being set to a convenient shape to fit the bottom of the standing wood chock M when the outboard end of the lever M is made to fall. In the lower arm of the V is fitted a suitable lever catch N, N which by engaging with its hooked arm N, the inner end of the chock bar M retains the movable chock l 5 in its working position; this lever catch is preferably weighted at one end N to retain it in engagement with the check bar M and is provided with suitable stops N to permit only the required amount of travel. A rope or chain may be connected to the inner end of the chock bar M for the purpose of pulling the inner end down and therefore moving the outer end up carrying with it the chock.

M after it has been lowered for disengaging purposes; this rope or chain may pass through an opening in the vertical portion of the derrick B. Safety hooks may be fitted where required to retain the derricks in their vertical position.

At a suitable position of each derrick B are fitted side links 0 connected at their free ends by a bolt P having on it a bracket the derrick at a suitable point when lowered. The bolt P also carries a connecting trip chain cable or the like R reaching to the suspension hook H. This trip chain R, when slack, as it is except when the derrick is nearly down, does not impede the action of gravity on the suspension hook H which is so formed and mounted as to gravitate into engaging position beneath the underside of the block K as soon as the block and derrick have begun to rise in company. The trip chain R between the hook H and the bolt P may be double and may pass over two wheels S journaled on the sheave pin D. The derricks B are connected by the usual span which may be extended fore and aft and attached to suitable eye plates on the line of the pins on which the derricks are pivoted.

When the derricks are not so conveniently placed to sustain the weight of the boat in chocks, the latter may be fitted in the usual manner on suitable beams or deck-houses and the boat raised up to take the weight off the chocks before the derrick is lowered.

The operation of lowering is as followsThe falls E being held on a pin or winch end the pins 0 are cleared from the derricks and the lever catches N locked back so as to allow the outer chocks M to fall; the boat is then freely lowered into the water the derricks carryin it clear of the vessel sides. The block I is held in the suspension hook H and the derrick B falls outward with the boat L until the angle, formed by the upper leads of the fall E and the thrust line of the derrick, is more acute than the angle between the thrust line of the derrick and the depending leads, whereupon further fall of the derricks operates to tighten the guy Q and trip chain R, and the suspension hook H is pulled out from beneath the block K, the boat L being then free to be lowered vertically from the der rick end into the water. The raising of the boat is efl ected by simply hauling on the tackles E, the boat rising vertically until it touches the suspension rod G when the derrick rises, and the suspension hook H is allowed to close beneath the block K. After the derrick B has traveled almost home the hook H suspends the boat L carrying it straight into the chocks M, M when it is only necessary to close the outer chock M by pulling down the inner arm of the support M until it is caught by the lever hook N and then to replace the pin 0 and the boat is housed requiring only to have the ordinary gripes replaced to make all secure.

In the arrangements above described every boat is accessible at all times and is always ready for floating.

All boats can be loaded ready for floating at one time.

The lower tier boats are floated first; the

upper tier boats follow immediately. There is no bringing in.of the davits to allow of other boats being put afloat. The upper tier boats are put out beyond the davits of the lower tier.

Mechanical appliances can be fitted to lift the boats and davits back into place when required, and for drill purposes, but are not required for putting out the boats.

The equivalent of the deck areas now occupied by boats and which is therefore unavailable as promenade space, is saved in the first cost of vessels designed on this system of boat carriage, and this saving stands to the credit against the additional capital outlay now required in boat accommodation.

The lower tier of boats being nearer the water than those now carried in large vessels, and the deck areas on which the boats sit being dispensed with, results in a lowering of the center of gravity of the weights of the superstructure in such vessels.

There being thus provided spaces in the boats for all, and all boat-s being accessible at all times, every bed in the vessel can be labeled with instructions to the occupant as to the particular boat and its position in which he or she can take their place.

What we claim as our invention and de sire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In boat-lowering apparatus for navi gable vessels the combination of, the navigable vessel, a plurality of small boats therefor, a plurality of superposed tiers of davits wherein the davits of difierent tiers have different outreaches and are pivoted on foreand-aftpivots, a fall for each davit led from the navigable vessel downward to the boat to which that davit is appropriated and operating to lower first the davit with the boat and next the boat away from the davit, and means to limit the movement of the davits outboard on their fore-and-aft pivots.

2. In boat-lowering apparatus for navi gable vessels the combination of, the navigable vessel, a plurality of small boats therefor, a plurality of superposed tiers of davits wherein the davits of different tiers have different outreaches and are pivoted on foreand-aft pivots, a fall for each davit led from the navigable vessel downward to the boat to which that davit is appropriated and operating to lower first the davit with the boat and next the boat away from the davit, means to limit the movement of the davits outboard on their fore-and-aft pivots, and a strut between the davits and the boat.

3. In boat-lowering apparatus for navigable vessels the combination of, the navigable vessel, a plurality of small boats therefor, a plurality of superposed tiers of davits wherein the davits of different tiers have different outreaches and are pivoted on fore-and-aft pivots, a fall for each davit led from the navigable vessel downward 1 to the boat to whicnthat davit is 'appropriate'd and operating to lower first the davit withthe boat and next the boat away from the davit, means to limit the movement of the davits outboard on their for'e'and-at't pivots, and a strut pivoted to each davit and extending from the davit to the boat. E V 4. In boat-lowering apparatus for navigable vessels the combinationof, thenavigable vessel, a plurality of small boats there or, "a plurality of superposed tiers of davits wherein the davits of different tiers have different outreaches and are pivoted on foreand -a ft pivots, a tall for each davit led from the navigable vessel downward to the boat to which that davit is appropriated and operating to lower first the davit with the boat and next the boat away from the davit, means to limit the movement "of the davits outboard on their toreand-aft pivots, and a hollow rod pivoted to each davit incl'osing and guiding the fall and forming a strut between the davit and the boat, its pivots be ing 'so disposed that the rod can swing in two directions at right angles. e v

5. 111 boat-lowering apparatus for navigable vessels the combination of, the navigable vessel, a lurality of small boats therefor, a plurality of superposed tiers of davits wherein the davits ot diflereiit tiers have different outreaehes and are pivoted on toreand-aft pivots, a fall for each davit led from the navigable vessel downward to the boat to which that davit is appropriated and operating to lower first the davit with the boat and next the boat away from the davit, means to limit the movement of the davits outboard on their .fore-and-aft pivots, I a strut between the davit and the boat, and a trip serving to disengage the strut from the boat. Y Y I 6. In boat-lowering apparatus for navigable vessels, the combination of, the navigable vessel, a plurality of small boats therefor, a plurality of superposed tiers of davits wherein, the davits of different tiers have different outreache's and are pivoted on foreand-att pivots, a tall tor each davit led from the navigable vessel downward to the boat to which that davit is appropriated and operating to lower first the davit with the boat and next the boat away from the davit, means to limit the movement of the davits outboard on their fore-and-aft pivots, a strut between the davit and the boat, and a trip constituted by a hook pivoted to the strut and serving to disengage the strut from the boat. p

7. In boat-lowering apparatus for navigab le vessels the combination of, the navigable vessel, aplurality of small boats therefor, a plurality of superposed tiers 0t davits wherein the davits of different tiers have different outreaches and are pivoted on forerota-ass ar a-art pivots, a fall for eaeh davit led from the navigable vessel downward to the boat to which that davit is appropriated and operating tolower first the davit with the boat and next the boat away from the davit, ineansto limit the movement of the davits outboard on their foreand-att pivots, a strut between the davit and boat, a trip serving to disengage the strut from the boat, and anautomatic trip releasing device.

V 8. In boat-loweringpapparatustor navigable vessels the combination of the navigable vessel, a plurality otsmall boats therefor, a plurality of superposed tiers of davits wherein the davits of different tiers have ditferent outreaches and are pivoted on foreand-att pivots, a fall for each vdavit led from the navigable vessel downward to the boat to which that davit is appropriated and operating to lower first the davit with the boat and next the boat away from the davit, means to limit the movement of the davits outboard on their, foreand'att pivots, a strut between the davit and the boat, a trip serving to disengage the strut from the boat, and an automatietrip releasing device operative to release the trip when, but not until, the davit is lowered. I

9. In boat-lowering apparatus for navigable vessels the combination of the navigable vessel, a plurality of small boats therefor, a plurality of superposed tiers of davits wherein the davits of diiierent tiers have different outreaehes and are pivoted on foreand-att pivots, a fall for each davit led from the navigable vessel downward to the boat to which that davit is appropriated and op erating to lower first the davit with the boat and next the boat away from the davit, means to limit the movement of the davits outboard on their tore-and-att pivots, a strut between the davit and the boat, a trip serving to disengage the strut from the boat, an automatic trip releasing device operative to release the trip when but not until the davit is lowered and constituted bya span made fast to the navigable vessel by its end remote from the trip and having such length that though slack when the davit is raised it will become tautened by the movement of the davit through the extreme portion of its outboard range and will release said trip.

10. In boat-lowering apparatus for navigable vessels the combination of the navigable. vessel,v a plurality of small boats therefor, a plurality of superposed tiers of davits wherein the davits of different tiers have different outreachesand are pivoted on fore-and-att pivots, a tall for each davit led from the navigable vessel downward to the boat to which that davit is appropriated and operating to lower first the davit with the boat and next the boat away from the davit means to limit the movement of the davits outboard on their fore-and-aft pivots, a hollow rod pivoted to each davit inclosing and guiding the fall and forming a strut between the davit and the boat, and so pivoted as to swing in two directions at right angles, a trip constituted by a hook pivoted to the strut and serving to disengage the strut from the boat, an automatic trip-releasing device operative to release said trip when but not until the davit is lowered and constituted by a span made fast to the navigable vessel by its end remOte from the trip and having such length that though slack when the davit is raised it will become tautened by the movement of the davit to the extreme portion of its outboard range and will release said trip device.

11. In boat-lowering apparatus for navigable vessels the combination of the navigable vessel, a plurality of small boats therefor, a plurality of superposed tiers of davits wherein the davits of different tiers have different outreaches and are pivoted on foreand-aft pivots, a fall for each davit led from the navigable vessel downward to the boat to which that davit is appropriated and operating to lower first the davit with the boat and next the boat away from the davit, means to limit the movement of the davits outboard on their fore-and-aft pivots, and a pusher mechanism secured to the navigable vessel and arranged to push the davits outboard against gravity.

12. In boat-lowering apparatus for navigable vessels the combination of the navigable vessel, a plurality of small boats therefor, a plurality of superposed tiers of davits wherein the davits of different tiers have difierent outreaches and are pivoted on foreand-aft pivots, a fall for each davit led from the navigable vessel downward to the boat to which that davit is appropriated and o erating to lower first the davit with the boat and next the boat away from the davit, means to limit the movement of the davits outboard on their fore-and-aft pivots, a pusher mechanism secured to the navigable vessel and arranged to push the davits outboard against gravity and constituted by a screwed rod bearing against the davit, a nut threaded on that rod, and means to prevent the nut from moving endwise with a mechanism to rotate the nut.

13. In boat-lowering apparatus for navigable vessels the combination of a navigable vessel, a superstructure thereon of width less than the vessels beam, a plurality of small boats, and a plurality of superposed tiers of davits at the outboard side of said superstructure wherein the davits of different tiers have different outreaches and are pivoted on fore-and-aft pivots, a fall for each davit led from the navigable vessel down ward to the boat to which that davit is appropriated and operating to lower first the davit with the boat and next the boat away from the davit, and means to limit the movement of the davits outboard on their foreand-aft pivots.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHAS. D. DOXFORD. R. DOXFORD.

Witnesses to the signature of Charles David Doxford:

O. J. WORTH, TRACY LAY.

Witnesses to the signature of Robert Doxford:

H. NIXON, FRED H. DUKE.

Gopiem of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

